Morning journal and courier., 1887-02-19
18th Congress---Second Session.

WASHINGTON. Feb. IS. l SENATE.-The credentials of Frank His cock as senator from New York were pre- l sented
 l MT. Dolph offered resolutions authorizing | the committee to sit during the recess al 1 such places as it may deem proper to enquire l Into the laws governing the use of moneys appropriated for rivers and harbors, the character and condition of the work, etc. referred.
 MT. Evarts presented the conference re- port on the polygamy bill-a substitute for both Senate and House bills. MT. Vest said as matter of course the bill would become a law, but he would not vote for 1t. In his judgment the bill vio- lated the principles Of the constitution to the rights of property. One of the provi- sions was naked, bold, simple confiscation and nothing else. The same might be done in regard to any other religious corporation. It was no answer to say that it applied only to the Normons. He remembered the time when storm of popular prejudice threat ened to destroy the Roman Catholic church, when it was proclaimed that the church was opposed to a republican government and when it was asserted that it's property should be confscated.
 Mr. Edmunds said in reply that the bill provided for the payment of all the debts of the emigrating company and the return to the stockholders of their investments and
 
 for which there was TO claimant that was to be escheated to the use of the common schools
 MT. Hoar wanted to know if there was any thing in the bill in requiring the test oath that attacked a mere opinion separate from 8 criminal act.
 MT. Edmunds replied in the negative.
 MT. Ingalls, said if the bill trenched on the liberty of conscience or freedom of personal belief he would be the last one to support it. He had as much respect for the sincere opin ion of Mormon as for member of any other sect. It was not the Mormon religion that was attacked in the measure; it was the practice of polygamy.
 MT. Butler thought that the bill violated he constitution. While he disclaimed all to1eration of polygamy, he could not support the proposed means of getting rid of it.
 The conference report was then adopted; yeas 37, nays 15. The nays were Messrs. Blackburn, Brown, Butler, Call, Coke, Gib- son, Hampton, Harris, Hoar, Kenna, Ran som, Vance and Whittehorne.
 The bill now goes to the President.
 A o'clock the Senate proceeded to con- sider the river and harbor bill. After the reading of the bill, on motion of MT. Jones of Arkansas, the item for the Arkansas river was increased to S150, 900. Other increases were as follows: On motion of MT. Butler for improving Charleston harbor to $3OO, ,OOO
 Without disposing of the bill the Senate adjourned.
 HoUsE.-Mr. Haynes, of New Hampshire, stated that at o'clock on Tuesday he would ask the House to take action with reference to the death of the late Senator Pike.
 The Senate amendments to the Mexican invalid pension bill were non-concurred in and conference ordered.
 bill was reported and referred to the committee of the whole appropriating S4,- 663, 104 for the payment of Mexican and other pensions.
 The House refused to pass the bill grant ing pension to Simmons w. Hart over the veto of the President. The vote was: Yeas 142, nays 99, not two thirds.
 MT. Baker of New York, claiming that it was a privileged question, sent to the clerk g desk and had read resolution setting aside 8 day for the consideration of territorial ad- mission bills.
 The House at o'clock took recess until 7:30 p. m. and at the evening session eonsid- cred Dension hills